‘Don’t need Pak lecture on internal matters’

Reacting angrily to reported comments by Islamabad about the Handwara incident in Kashmir, India reasserted on Friday that Pakistan is an epicentre of global terrorism and India does not need any lecture from it on internal matters.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said comments by a senior minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province, that action cannot be taken against terror outfits JuD and JeM as the state itself was involved with them, corroborated India’s position.

The remarks of Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah elucidated the reason for lack of effective action even against those entities and individuals against whom Pakistan has international obligation to act, Mr Swarup said, adding that Islamabad must address the “unfortunate reality”.

“If the minister indeed said so, it sadly corroborates the view that we have always held about the support and freedom available to anti-India terrorist groups in Pakistan, including internationally-sanctioned terrorist groups and individuals,” he said responding to Pakistan foreign office’s reported comments on the Handwara incident.

“It is up to authorities in Pakistan to address this unfortunate reality in the interest of a normal relationship between the two countries and in the broader interest of Pakistan itself,” he said.

He called Pakistan an epicentre of global terrorism and that Islamabad has no locus standi to comment on such internal issues.

“We do not need lectures from third parties, least of all from Pakistan, which would do well to reflect upon the state it finds itself in, as an epicentre of global terrorism and a country where religious minorities are routinely persecuted,” said Mr Swarup.

“The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan has no locus standi in commenting on matters that are entirely internal to the state of J&K and India,” he added.

Asked whether Pakistan was reluctant to allow a visit by an NIA team to that country to probe the Pathankot attack, Swarup said before allowing the Pakistani Joint Investigation Team to visit India, a note verbal was sent to them saying that it will be on the basis of reciprocity.

“The JIT visit was allowed based on reciprocity. And Pakistan even did not refute it. We made a request to them (for NIA visit). Let’s see what response they give,” said Swarup.

He said presure is on Pakistan on the Pathankot issue and that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had told his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Chaudhry during talks here last month that terrorism is a major issue and Pakistan has to take steps to contain it. Asked about China investing billions of dollars in building an economic corridor in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Swarup said that area is integral part of India and China has been told to cease all activities there.

“Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Chinese activities in Pakistan Occupied J&K have been taken up with the Chinese side including at the highest level. We had asked them to cease all activities there,” he said.

He clarified that Afghanistan was very much part of the satellite being built by India for the region. On the extradition of Vijay Mallya from the UK, Swarup said the Ministry was awaiting Enforcement Directorate’s advice on the next steps. .